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(No Model.) F; J. WERNETH.

CURTAIN CORD TIGHTENER.

No; 255,361. Patented Mar. 21,1882.

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7 ATTORNEY N. PUERS, Fhatoiilhograplvur, Washington, D, C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' FRANCIS J. WERNE'IH, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

CURTAIN-CORD TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part pf Letters Patent No. 255,361, dated March 21, 1882.

Application filed J ul y 22, 1881.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS J. \VERNETH, of Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Cord Tighteners; and I hereby declare the same to be fully, clearly, and exactly described as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device, and Fig. 2 a sectional view on the line as a: of Fig. 1.

My invention relates to devices for maintaining a proper tension of the cords of window-curtains; and it has for its object to produce an article of that class superior in point of efficiency to those heretoforeused, while being of such construction as to be very cheaply made.

In the drawings, A is the frame or plate, having perforated end tan gs, a, for thesecnring-screws b. The frame A has a central longitudinal slot, in which slides the. block 0, having roller B for the curtain cord, and thumbpiece 0, whereby the block may be pressed downward in the slot; Atone or both sides of the frame is a ratchet, d, of which the teeth point' downward, and with which a spring, D, riveted to the block 0, engages.

The frame A and ratchet (I may be made by casting; but by preference they are formed by punching up a plate of sheet-brass to the shape shown, in which case the teeth may be made (No model.)

by indenting the side of the frame, or else may be formed by casting on a bar which is held in place in the frame A by compressing the latter upon it, In this case the top 6 of the frame is folded over upon the bar so as to hold it down against the strain of the cord.

The block 0 has on either side a smooth groove, f, in which the edgef of the frame A fits, so that the block slides smoothly in the slot, and the tendency to tilt incident upon the usual ratcheted front of the frame is avoided. The frame is open at the bottom, permitting the block 0 to he slid completely out of the frame should the curtain-cord slacken to that extent, when, the slack being taken up, the block is reinserted at the top.

The device is ornamental in outward appearance, the ratchet and its spring or pawl being bid, and the mode of constructing it leaves nothing to be desired in point of economy.

What I claim is- In combination with the sheet-metal frame, open at top and bottom for the insertion of the slide, and having internal lateral ratchet, the block 0, grooved to fit the edges of the frame, and having the knob or pulley for the cord,

as set forth.

FRANCIS J. WERNETH. Attest:

S. D. WILLIAMS, J N0. T. MADDOX. 

